There are numerous advantages offered to companies and corporations by the leadership of a female CEO. Research has indicated that such businesses reach great heights in not only professional achievement, but also in successful every-day interactions among employees at all levels. Below are three reasons why more companies and corporations are noticing that women succeed this position and why they will likely grow in numbers in the position of CEO.

Women engage a teamwork approach.

Women have a greater likelihood of asking for and accepting help. This characteristic is often perceived as a weakness for men, as traditional masculine roles dictate that men should be independent and self-sufficient and asking for help undermines this ideal. Fortunately, women are not limited by this barrier and do not feel threatened by obtaining help from others in order to achieve a greater goal. In work settings, women tend to engage the feedback and team support from other employees, a behavior that leads to unifying the collective efforts and abilities of many, resulting in optimal results. Enlisting the help of others is a strength and a characteristic of a confident individual, which women have no qualms about putting into practice. Utilizing teamwork defines a good leader and an excellent CEO.

Women are resilient.

The position of CEO is male dominated, which is why women in this position possess numerous personal strengths, as they must work harder and more resolutely to achieve and maintain a position that society has tried to keep them out of for so long. Resilience is a key strength that female CEOs possess because they have had to accept failure and rejection, and move forward regardless, in order to reach the position that they have earned.

Women work harder.

The effect of the glass ceiling still influences the presence of women in executive positions. Women CEOs often claim that they had to work twice as hard (or more) as their male counterparts and the hard work doesn’t end once they move into the corner office in the penthouse. Women CEOs are highly scrutinized and much is expected of their performance, therefore they must work tirelessly in order to maintain their role. Females in this position are dedicated, motivated, high achieving, and truly appreciate of their role, never taking their position for granted. They lived, firsthand, the hardships required to break through barriers and achieve the title of CEO.

Despite the benefits and value of women CEOs, female CEOs are still extremely rare in the US and Europe. According to research done by Forbes in 2017, the number of women at the helm of top companies in the U.S. and abroad were still sadly small.

The study, “Route to the Top,” was put together by executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, and examined the number of female CEOs in the U.S., the United Kingdom, France and Germany (as cited in CNBC article dated, 25 April 2017 by Benjamin Snyder). Results indicate
that the U.S. continues to represent the largest percentage of female CEOs, with about 8 percent of the top spots held by women. However, that number declined by 1 percent from 2015 to 2016, according to the study. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is at a close distance, rising in percentage 5 percent to 6 percent in 2017. Both France and Germany remained the same at 2 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

The results are promising from 2017, in that the U.S. Fortune reported that the number of female CEOs heading up Fortune 500 companies was slated to grow in 2017, to 27.

The current list of female CEOs in the Fortune 100 is:

• Mary Barra of General Motors
• Virginia Rometty of IBM
• Indra Nooyi of PepsiCo
• Marillyn Hewson of Lockheed Martin
• Safra Catz of Oracle
• Phebe Novakovic of General Dynamics
• Irene Rosenfeld of Mondelez International

In order for companies to thrive in an evolving economy, diversity is key. While we know this instinctively, research has also proven that companies that are able to leverage their culture of diversity are able to significantly outperform their homogeneous competitors. Many organizations that are ready to embrace innovation and include the potential of a diverse workforce begin by implementing and re-evaluating women’s leadership initiatives.

For many years, I have been working with female high achievers and executives to help them deal with the challenges of the high-pressure workplace. My techniques and strategies have helped hundreds of women around the country and around the world feel more powerful, professional and confident in their professional lives. Additionally, the Executive and Success coaching services I provide are one of the most effective ways to build sustainable change in women who want to take specific actions that will deliver short-term as well as longer-term goals.

To learn more about coaching services provided by Dr. Sanchez please visit our website at: www.dravsanchez.com.